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Fate/Extella: The Umbral Star Review (Nintendo Switch)

Written yesteryear Alexander O. Cuaycong as well as Anthony L. Cuaycong


TitleFate/Extella: The Umbral Star
Developer: Marvelous Inc.
Publisher: Marvelous USA/XSEED Games
Genre: Action
Also Available On: PS4, PS Vita, PC



The Fate serial has ever had its human foot one-half inwards as well as one-half out of Western markets. Fate/Stay Night as well as its sequel Hollow Ataraxia never received an official English linguistic communication translation, their commercial success inwards Nippon notwithstanding. Such is also the illustration with Fate Tiger Colosseum as well as Fate CCC as well as various other low-cal novels as well as stories. That said, Type-Moon seems to a greater extent than than eager to compass its audiences beyond the Land of the Rising Sun. From Fate/Unlimited Codes’ release inwards 2009, to Fate/Extra inwards 2011, to fifty-fifty Fate/Grand Order on Android as well as IOS this year, the noted developer is taking steps to satisfy its English-speaking fans inwards the West.

With Fate/Extella The Umbral Star’s release on the Nintendo Switch, Type-Moon goes i measuring further. Earlier this year, it made the English linguistic communication version of the game available on the PlayStation four as well as PlayStation Vita, as well as the reception was decidedly positive. No doubt, this spurred the developer to port it to other platforms. And at that spot lies the query at this point: Will Extella have got the same comport on on the Switch? Or volition it endure forgotten as well as seen every bit a blatant cash grab?




Right off the bat, Fate/Extella doesn’t concur dorsum inwards the even out department. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 pseudo sequel to Fate Extra as well as the unstranslated Fate/Extra CC, Extella takes house inwards the same universe, on the digital constructs of the Luna Cell, a powerful reckoner capable of granting wishes. Set afterward the events of these games, players as well as their magical Servant as well as companion Nero Claudius have got established govern over the Luna Cell, but are threatened yesteryear exterior sources. Using both encephalon as well as brawn, they require to larn through iii primary even out modes inwards social club to notice out the mystery of the Luna Cell, the even out behind the Regalia each Servant holds, as well as the “true” even out of what truly happened inwards the Grail War.

Fate’s grandeur serves every bit both a forcefulness as well as a weakness. It’s non that at that spot aren’t plenty storylines to operate along the game going. Rather, at that spot are likewise many, as well as few details virtually each are given. Fans of the serial volition endure able to operate along upwardly with the somewhat muddied tale, as well as appreciate the means it manages to slice things together with the purpose of already-established lore. However, a lot of what tin give the axe makes Extella’s even out appealing also hinders it every bit gamers novel to the serial volition no uncertainty larn lost with the many terminologies it likes to throw roughly willy-nilly. What are Servants? What is the Luna Cell? What precisely tin give the axe it do?? What is the Regalia? Who are the graphic symbol “officers” i encounters? What do they do? How are they connected with each other? Why does everything appear so random?




The answers to these questions, piece they are tackled inwards Extella, larn out a lot to endure desired. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 deliberate pick overall, it seems, every bit it tends to focus exclusively on the human relationship of the histrion with his/her electrical current Servant as well as picayune else. While the even out has its practiced points, it’s best appreciated yesteryear fans, as well as volition probable confuse newcomers.

For all the confusion the even out is probable to bring, the gameplay, on the other hand, is straightforward. Anyone who’s played Dynasty Warriors earlier volition probable notice Extella refreshingly similar. Find bad guys, rhythm out them up. Cut through waves of goons, come across an enemy mini-boss or three, as well as so overcome the enemy commander via a bunch of flashy, extravagant as well as over-the-top flips as well as slashes.




Choose from upwardly to sixteen servants available for play, each with a unique pattern as well as fighting style. While their overall publish may appear low, the characters are decidedly distinct as well as unique on control. Some servants are amend at clearing droves of enemies, piece others are slower as well as to a greater extent than deliberate inwards attack, but striking much harder at a cost. The “Extella Maneuver” serves every bit a combo assail for all, giving the histrion the mightiness to perform costless hits on large groups of enemies. The introduction of the Regalia Transformation serves every bit a “buff” power-up, giving players the mightiness to supercharge their graphic symbol for a curt amount of time, or fifty-fifty modify their fighting vogue altogether. And then, through each stage, iii “keys” be that, i time collected, allow the histrion to perform a Noble Phantasm, a powerful, flashy as well as visually gorgeous complete move.

Overall, Extella gives the histrion a lot of tools to play with, tools that are thankfully fun, as well as this is Extella’s greatest selling signal – as well as downside. How fun Extella is depends totally on how fun a given histrion finds button-mashing games to be. There is real picayune departure from its marrow gameplay. It gives the histrion the tools to attain the chore – as well as that’s it. There are no large choices to make, no multiple endings to larn through. There is only i road – as well as only i objective inwards each stage. Beat someone’s aspect upwardly in. Rinse. Repeat.




The practiced word is that Extella on the Nintendo Switch runs smoothly. When played with the console docked, the game shows its graphical limitations compared to its PS4 sibling; nonetheless, at that spot are no frame drops, as well as the varied controller choices as well as configurations truly brand for to a greater extent than convenient access. When played on the go, it’s decidedly superior to the Vita version, as well as non but because of the bigger covert as well as to a greater extent than powerful engine.

Visually, a lot of endeavour went into Extella’s fine art design. The stages are gorgeous, ranging from giant stadiums to Japanese temples to keen castles to archways with Roman architecture. Each phase is different, as well as the visual feast shows the painstaking attention made to ensure its uniqueness. Character pattern is diverse, as well as each Servant stands out from the other, both character-wise as well as costume-wise. Even the generic enemies players aspect upwardly have got dissimilar forms, from floating bird-like archers to keen lumbering giants, interspersed with to a greater extent than humanoid-like figures of varying sizes as well as makeups. Yet, for all these picayune nuances inwards design, gameplay wise, it never changes. Extella advertised itself every bit a beat-em-up – as well as does but that as well as zilch else.




As a whole, Extella tin give the axe endure taken thusly: It’s a push clitoris masher nether the Fate umbrella. Loads of fun, but repetitive. It does zilch genre-breaking as well as plays safe, gameplay-wise. It gives precisely what it says it would, but zilch to a greater extent than than that. Visually, Extella tin give the axe wow the histrion at times; the Noble Phantasm segments where characters performs their ain special moves are peculiarly spectacular.




But overall? Fans of the serial volition appreciate the pattern as well as the even out for how it is. Fans of the beat-em-up genre may notice something prissy to pass their fourth dimension on, every bit the game sufficiently delivers inwards price of content with its primary even out standing with several side stories. It may non intermission novel ground, but it delivers on what it promises, as well as it does so smoothly as well as without a hitch on the Switch.



The Good:
  • Wonderful fine art vogue as well as design
  • Fast-paced gameplay perfect for an adrenaline junkie
  • Serves every bit “fan service” to established Fate followers
  • Holds the Fate badge

The Bad:
  • Has some “game-y” mechanics
  • Can stimulate nausea when played on the go
  • Repetitive
  • Confusing terminology for casual players
  • Does non intermission novel solid pose down inwards price of mechanics or gameplay


 Rating: 8/10

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